Locking means for folding table legs



N v- 1955 A. F. OAKES LOCKING MEANS FOR FOLDING TABLE LEGS Filed June 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

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Nov. 29, 1955 A. F. OAKES 2,725,259

LOCKING MEANS FOR FOLDING TABLE LEGS Filed June 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 41.1 Oakes INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent f 2,725,269 7 LOCKING MEANS FOR FOLDING TABLE LEGS Albert F. Oakes, Columbia, Tenn.

Application June 4, 1953, Serial No. 359,622

2 claims. (Cl. 311-88) This invention relates to table construction, and more particularly to that type of table known as a folding leg type, an important object of the invention being to provide a table wherein the folding legs thereof may be tem' porarily held in either their open or closed position by means of a spring strip or slat constructed preferably of wood and of such a pliable nature that pressure will be directed to the leg structure of the table to temporarily hold the legs of the table in either their folded or extended position.

An important object of the invention is to provide a table having foldable legs wherein the spring strip or slat will be so constructed and arranged that pressure will be directed against the batten of the table, in such a way that the legs will be normally held in either extended or folded position, but by exerting pressure on the legs in an inward or outward direction, the action of such spring strip or slat will be overcome to the end that the legs may be moved as desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide readily operable means for securing the legs in their extended position when it is desired to provide a more permanent table structure such as a large dining table or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through a table equipped with folding legs, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view through the table top and table batten, illustrating a leg as extended in a supporting position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view through a table top and batten of the table illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view through a table top and batten of a table illustrating means for securing the legs in their extended or supporting positions providing a permanent table structure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a table top and the reference character 6 indicates the legs of the table which are pivotally secured to the under surface of the table top, as clearly shown.

The leg structure embodies a pair of legs at each end of the table, the legs of each pair being connected by the conventional batten 7.

Stop strips 8 are secured to the'under surface of the table adjacent to the ends thereof, against which the legs 6 move in holding the legs in upright positions.

Hinges 9 connect the legs 6 to the under side of the table top asbetter shown by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Secured to theunder surface of the table top at a point substantially centrally thereof, is a block 10 which is elongated, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, and to this block is secured the spring strip or slat 11 which is substantially wide.

The screws 12 secure the spring strip or slat to the block 10 in such a way that the spring strip or slat will flex at points beyond the ends of the block. As shown, the spring strip or slat is of a length to extend to points directly under the battens of the legs of the table, where the extremities of the spring strip or slat move into the recesses 12 formed in the lower inner edges of the battens.

The reference character 13 indicates spring pressed pins formed with heads 14 at their outer ends and blocks 15 at their inner ends, the blocks 15 having their lower surfaces beveled and normally resting on the upper surface of the spring strip or slat adjacent to its ends. Due to this construction, it will be seen that when the spring pressed pins 13 are moved inwardly, the blocks will move over the upper surface of the spring strip or slat to move the ends thereof away from the battens 7 of the leg structure, whereupon the legs may be swung inwardly to the dotted line position as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing and the table folded. With this construction, it will be seen that the legs will be held in an extended or supporting position, against accidental movement should the legs of the table be struck by the feet or legs of the person using the table.

If it is desired to fold the table or swing the legs of the table inwardly, it is only necessary to press the pins 13 inwardly, whereupon the blocks 15 with their beveled or cam surfaces contacting the upper surface of the spring strip or slat will force the ends of the spring strip or slat downwardly disengaging the slat and batten, allowing the legs to swing inwardly.

As shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, the lower inner edge of the batten 16 at each end of the table, is formed with a cut out portion 17 in which the ends of the spring strip or slat 18 move, when the legs are in their extended positions. With this construction, it will be seen that the legs will be normally biased outwardly by the action of the spring strip or slat 18 and will hold the legs of the table in their extended positions under normal conditions.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings the batten which is indicated by the reference character 19 is provided with a bore that registers with a bore in the stop bar 20 to receive the bolt 21 on which the wing nut 22 is positioned, the wing nut drawing the leg members into close engagement with the stop bar 20 providing a rigid table which may be readily converted into a folding table by merely removing the wing nuts 22 and swinging the legs inwardly on their hinges 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a table wherein the legs thereof may be folded inwardly so' that the table may be conveniently stored, and one which may be readily converted into a strong and rigid table when the legs are extended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a folding table, a table top, pairs of legs pivotally connected to the table top, a batten connecting the legs of each pair, the battens having cut out portions in the inner edges thereof, a spring strip or slat secured to the under surface of the table top, the ends of said spring strip or slat resting in the cut out portions normally holding the legs extended, spring pressed pins extending through said battens, blocks on the inner ends of said pins contacting with the spring strip or slat, said pins adapted to efiect movement of'the blocks and ends of-saijd spring strip or slat inwardly releasing the legs of the table for inward pivotal movement.

2. In a folding table, a table top, pairs of legs pivotally connected to the table top, a batten connecting thelegs of each pair, the battens having cut out portions in the inner edges thereof, a spring stripor slat secured to the under suriace of the table top the ends ofsaid spring strip or slat resting in the cut outportions, normally holding the legs extended, spring pressed pins extending trans versely through saidbattens, blocksqon the inner ends of said pins, said blocks having beveled inner ends resting on the upper surfaces ofsaidspring strip or slat, and said pins being movable inwardlyurging the ends of said spring strip or slat from the cut out portions, releasing the legs for inward swinging movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 181,969 Osgood Sept. 5, 1876 340,087 Birchard Apr. 20, 1886 1,217,266 Bilton Feb. 27, 1917 1,890,986 Hanley Dec. 13, 1932 1,944,757 Ritter Jan. 23, 1934 2,054,098 Rich Sept. 15, 1936 2,478,502 Peterson Aug. 9, 1949 

